Russia struck the Bortnytsia wastewater treatment plant; there is a risk that untreated wastewater could flow into the Dnipro River
Following the Russian attack on the Bortnytska wastewater treatment plant in Kyiv, there is a risk that untreated wastewater could flow into the Dnipro River.
This was stated by Oleksandr Serhiienko, director of the “City Institute,” on the Espreso TV channel.
According to the expert, the Bortnytska aeration station is a key facility for treating the capital’s sewage, which receives both domestic and industrial wastewater.
“The worst thing that could happen after a Russian strike on the Bortnytska aeration station is that water treatment would cease. The Bortnytska station is the final treatment facility where sewage is collected, specifically from domestic and industrial sewage systems. This is not a storm sewer system where water flows directly into the Dnipro River,” Serhiienko explained.
He noted that there are no large metallurgical plants in Kyiv that could significantly pollute the water, although some chemical plants do use the city’s sewer system.
“Yes, there are chemical plants, but they simply use water without polluting it. So, to sum up, the worst-case scenario could be a leak of untreated water into the Dnipro,” the expert added.
Sergienko also commented on the panic on social media regarding possible massive river contamination and fish deaths. According to him, it is currently impossible to accurately assess the scale of the consequences; however, in the event of problems with wastewater treatment, an additional burden will fall on the water treatment systems of cities located downstream of the Dnipro.
“I’ve seen panic on social media about the possibility of poisoning and fish kills. In reality, no one can say for sure what the exact consequences will be. The problem is that the entire burden of water treatment will fall on the water utilities of cities located downstream,” he emphasized.
In the Kherson region, two people were killed and 16 others were wounded over the past day as a result of Russian shelling and drone attacks.
Over the past day, Russian troops shelled 49 settlements in the Sumy region. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed, and four more civilians were wounded.
